# What Everyone Needs to Know About the Stripe Ticket (Streifenkarte) > The MVV ticket system confused me when I arrived in Munich. Once you get the Streifenkarte, it's simple: fold, stamp, and ride. - URL: https://hsalem.com/munich_germany_stripe_ticket/ - Author: Hassan Salem (https://hsalem.com/about/) - Published: 2025-03-30 - Updated: 2026-10-02 - Topics: Learning, Culture, Germany ## TL;DR (Stripe Ticket Cheat Sheet) Prices as of 2026: 10 stripes cost €18.70, so one stripe is about €1.87.
WhoTrip TypeStripes NeededApprox. Cost
Adult (21+)Zone M2 stripes€3.74
Child (6 to 14)Any trip in the whole network1 stripe€1.87
Under 6Any trip0Free
Adult + ChildZone M3 stripes€5.61
Short trip (adult or child)Up to 4 stops, max 2 of them by U-Bahn/S-Bahn1 stripe€1.87
AdultZone M + 1 extra zone3 stripes€5.61
AdultZone M + 2 extra zones4 stripes€7.48
When I first moved to Munich, I was totally confused by the MVV ticket system. Zones, day tickets, stripe tickets, short trips, IsarCards... I felt really overwhelmed. I made many mistakes and wasted some money on the wrong tickets :D So if you're new to Munich and you want to avoid this mess, let me break it down for you. Especially the **Stripe Ticket (Streifenkarte)**, which is one of the most flexible and cheapest tickets if you know how to use it right. ## What is a Stripe Ticket? A **Stripe Ticket (Streifenkarte)** is a paper ticket with 10 stripes (rectangles) printed on it, numbered from 1 to 10. You validate a certain number of stripes depending on how far you travel and who you are (adult or child). If you are between 15 and 20 years old, there is a cheaper version called the Streifenkarte U21 (€10.20). Note that you can't use it for short trips. ### Why use a Stripe Ticket? - It's cheaper than single tickets if you travel occasionally. - More than one person can use it at the same time. - It works on all MVV transport: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, and bus. - It doesn't expire until all the stripes are used. ## How to use the Stripe Ticket (for Zone M) If you travel **within Zone M (the city of Munich)**: - **Adults (21+):** validate **2 stripes** per trip. - **Children (6 to 14):** validate **1 stripe** per trip, no matter how far they go. - **Children under 6:** travel **for free**. > A trip is one journey in one direction. You can change lines and take short breaks, but you can't use the same stripes for the way back. > Example: You and your 8 year old daughter are taking the U-Bahn. You validate 3 stripes, 2 for you and 1 for her. Three stripes means you stamp the rectangle with the number 3, which makes the stripes before it used. ![](https://hsalem.com/api/media/file/stripe_ticket_validated_3.jpeg) To validate: 1. Fold the ticket so the right number of stripes is showing. 2. Insert it into the blue stamping machine (at the stations, or inside trams and buses). 3. Make sure the rectangle with the correct number is facing up. 4. Make sure the machine stamps the correct date and time. Usually it does, but check anyway. A Zone M trip is valid for 2 hours after you stamp it. ## Short trips: even cheaper For very short trips (up to 4 stops after you get on, and at most 2 of them by U-Bahn or S-Bahn), you only need **1 stripe per person**. The short trip is valid for 1 hour. > ⚠️ Make sure your trip really counts as a “Kurzstrecke” (short trip). Otherwise you might get fined. ## Is the Stripe Ticket cheaper than a day ticket? It depends on how much you travel that day. ### Stripe Ticket costs (2026) - 10 stripes: **€18.70** - Cost per stripe: **about €1.87** - Typical Zone M trip (adult): **2 stripes = €3.74** ### Day ticket (Tageskarte) - **Single day ticket, Zone M:** €10.10 (unlimited rides until 6 a.m. the next day) - **Group day ticket:** for up to 5 adults. Check the current price on the MVV website. **Quick math:** - One round trip (there and back) with the stripe ticket = **4 stripes = €7.48** - If you take **3 or more trips** in one day, the **day ticket is cheaper** **Heads up for 2027:** from January 1, 2027 the paper Streifenkarte goes up to €21.00, and the digital one in the MVV app costs €19.50. So the app becomes the cheaper option. ## Where to buy stripe tickets - Ticket machines at all U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations - The MVV app (digital version) - On trams and buses you can usually buy only single tickets MVV official page: [Stripe Ticket Info](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/tickets-subscriptions-prices/strip-card/) ## Tips from my mistakes - Always **validate before boarding**, even if you change trains later. - Don't forget to validate **enough stripes** for you and your kids. - Use the **MVV app** to check if your trip is short enough for 1 stripe. - Keep the stamped ticket with you until the end of the trip. Inspectors want to see the ticket itself. ## Final thoughts Stripe tickets are a great choice once you understand how to use them. As an expat, they helped me save money. If you only take a few trips a week, they're totally worth it. But if you commute daily or explore the city a lot on weekends, look at **day tickets**, **weekly or monthly passes**, or the Deutschlandticket. Don't let MVV confuse you. Just remember: **fold, stamp, and ride.**